O thou infinite goodness, confirm thy past mercies to me, by enabling me for what remains of my life, to be more faithful than I have hitherto been, to this thy great command. For the time I have yet to sojourn upon earth, O let me fulfil this great duty. Permit me not to be in any delusion here: let me not trust in words, or sighs, or tears, but love thee even as thou hast commanded. Let me feel, and then I shall know what it is, to love thee with all my heart.
O merciful God, whatsoever thou deniest me, deny me not this love. Save me from the idolatry of loving the world, or any of the things of the world. Let me never love any creature, but for thy sake, and in subordination to thy love. Take thou the full possession of my heart, raise there thy throne, and command there, as thou dost in heaven. Being created by thee, let me live to thee; being created for thee, let me ever act for thy glory; being redeemed by thee, let me render unto thee what is thine, and let my spirit ever cleave to thee alone!
Let the prayers and sacrifices of thy holy church offered unto thee this day, be graciously accepted; cloath thy priests with righteousness, and pardon all thy people who are not prepared according to the preparation of the sanctuary. Prosper all those who are sincerely engaged in propagating or promoting thy faith and love (——)[¹]: Give thy Son the Heathen for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession: that from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, thy name may be great among the Gentiles. Enable us of this nation, and especially those whom thou hast set over us in church and state, in our several stations, to serve thee in all holiness, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. Continue to us the means of grace, and grant we may never provoke thee by our non-improvement to deprive us of them. Pour down thy blessing upon our universities, that they may ever promote true religion and sound learning. Shew mercy, O Lord, to my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, to all my friends (——)[¹] relations and enemies, and to all that are in affliction. Let thy fatherly hand be over them, and thy holy Spirit ever with them; that submitting themselves entirely to thy will, and directing all their thoughts, words and works to thy glory, they and those that are already dead in the Lord, may at length enjoy thee, in the glories of thy kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for ever.
[¹] Here mention the particular persons you would pray for.
SUNDAY EVENING.
General questions which a serious Christian may propose to himself, before he begins his evening devotions.
1. With what degree of attention and fervour did I use my morning prayers, public or private?
2. Have I done any thing without a present, or at least a previous perception of its direct, or remote tendency to the glory of God?
3. Did I in the morning consider, what particular virtue I was to exercise, and what business I had to do in the day?